Vibrator ripper plows



June 4, 1968 1.. o. KELLEY 3,386,517

VIBRATOR RIPPER PLOWS Filed June 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w ,LEON o.KELLEY N INVENTOR.

IBYW

HIS AGENT June 4, 1968 L. o. KELLEY VIBRATOR RIPPER FLOWS Filed June 28,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEON O. KELLEY INVENTOR 2 HIS AGENT United StatesPatent Office Patented June 4-, 1968 3,386,517 VIBRATOR RIPPER PLOWSLeon 0. Kelley, R0. Box 488, Stamford, Tex. Filed June 28, 1965, Ser.No. 467,322 7 Claims. (Cl. 172-40) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisinvention relates to improvements in rippers and more particularly tovibrating rippers such as used in plowing deep furrows in the terrain,thereby to open a ditch for laying pipe lines, communication cables, andthe like.

Various rippers have been proposed heretofore, but these, for the mostpart, have limitations as to the depth at which they could plow, and asto the material through which they could rip or plow.

In a general sense, most rippers were effective at normal depths, inconventional soil; however, when a terrain of highly compacted clay,hardpan or rock was encountered, it was often difiicult to plow to thedesired depth, as the point of such rippers had a tendency to wedge intothe material being plowed, without breaking the material loose, whichwould hinder the forward movement of the traction element by which theripper was being drawn.

The present ripper is so constructed, that an impact hammer such as isdriven by high pressure air, is utilized to exert a vibratory motion toa hammer or ram which acts on an anvil to transmit vibratory motion tothe point of the ripper. In so doing, the material being plowed is morereadily loosened, which enables the plowing or ripping of the terrain ata much more rapid rate, than if the vibratory motion to the ripper pointwere not imparted.

An object of this invention is to provide a ripper plow, the point ofwhich may be vibrated, which vibratory movement may be readilymanipulated from the operators seat, thereby to vary the intensity ofthe vibration in accordance with the terrain being plowed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pneumatically actuatedvibrator for vibrating the point of a ripper plow about a horizontalaxis.

Still another object of the invention is to provide vibration to thepoint of a ripper plow, which vibration attachment may be readilyattached to a conventional ripper, with a minimum of alteration thereto.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a vibratorattachment for a ripper, which attachment may be readily removed forrepair or replacement in a minimum of time.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a vibrator cylinderattachment for a ripper, which attachment is of compact construction andwhich is powerful in operation.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a vibratorattachment for a ripper plow, wherein the vibrator element is notdirectly attached to the movable portion of the ripper plow.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a ripper shank whichhas a pivoted plow point thereon, which plow point is movable about ahorizontal axis by impacts imparted by an air hammer.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a movable ripperpoint which is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis to permitvibration thereof, and which ripper point has a renewable impact surfacedetachably connected thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air actuated vibratingripper plow point, which is simple in construction, easy to operate,effective in operation, is relatively low in the cost of production, andwhich will withstand the rugged use to which it is subjected.

With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as thedescription proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in theseveral views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a traction element, such as acrawler type tractor, to which a ripper is attached, showing the ripperin full outline in plowing position in the terrain, the ripper beingshown in raised position in dashed outline;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the air system, show ing an enlargedsectional view through an air hammer actuating mechanism, with portionsof the ripper shank and portions of the impact anvil being shown, andshowing certain parts as being broken away or shortened, other partsbeing shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ripper shank, shown apart from theripper frame and the traction element, with parts broken away andshortened, and with parts shown in section to bring out the details ofconstruction;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the ripper shank, shown apart fromthe ripper frame and traction element, with parts being broken away andwith parts shown in section, and showing an air hammer secured in place;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the ripper point and impactreceiving anvil shown apart from the ripper shank, and showing theripper anvil in exploded relation with respect to the ripper point;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the ripper point as shown in FIG.6; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 4, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

With more detailed reference to the drawings, the numeral 1 designatesgenerally a prime mover, such as a track laying tractor of the generaltype known as a Caterpillar. The prime mover 1 has a mounting plate 2attached to the rear end thereof, to which mounting plate 2 is attacheda ripper plow frame 4, which frame 4 is of the same general character asthe frame of Ripper Flows shown in the patent to- Carlton 0. Kelley,issued Mar. 5, 1957, No. 2,783,699. The ripper frame is raised andlowered by a hydraulic system, including rams 6, as will be seen in FIG.1, similar to the system in the above designated patent. The rams of thepresent hydraulic systern are pivotally mounted on a trunnion 8 on anupstanding support frame 10.

In the present device, only one ripper plow shank 12 is shown mountedwithin the frame 4. The shank 12 passes through a socket '13 withinripper frame 4 and a pin 14 passes through an apertured lug 18 on frame4 and through one of the several holes 16 which are formed in shank 12,so as to maintain the ripper shank 12 in fixed relation with respect toframe 4. The ripper frame 4 of the present device, and as shown in theabove mentioned patent, has outwardly and rearwardly extending framemembers other than a center frame member, however, in the presentinstance, only the center frame member is shown to have a ripper shanktherein. However, apertured lugs 18a and corresponding sockets are shownin the other portions of the frame 4, in which additional ripper shanksmay be positioned. The ripper shank 12 has a tubular member 20 securedto the rear side thereof, as is fully illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and8. The tubular member 29 extends to a point near the lower end of rippershank 12. The shank '12 has a recess 22 formed therein, with atransverse aperture 24, passing through the lower portion thereof andthrough recess 22.

A detachable vibrator plow 26 has a sharpened point 23 and an upwardlyinclined, dirt engaging portion 39. The upper face of the vibrator plow26 has a lug 32 formed on the upper side thereof, which lug isaperturcd, as indicated at 34. The aperture 34 is adapted to registerwith aperture 24- in the lower portion of shank 12, when the lug 32 ispositioned within recess 22. With the apertures 2 and 34 in register, apivot pin 36 is passed therethrough to hold the vibrator plow 26 inpivoted relation with respect to ripper shank 12 which mounts the airhammer mechanism 54. A portion 38 of the vibrator plow 26 extendshorizontally rearward of shank 12 and has a wear receiving anvil 40positioned on the upper face thereof, which anvil 40 has a lug 42extending into a recess 44 formed in the vibrator plow 26. When theanvil 40 seats on the upper face of the rearwardly extending portion 38of the vibrator plow 26, an aperture 46 in lug 42 will register with theaperture 48 in the rear portion 38 of vibrator plow 26, whereupon, a pin50 may be passed therethrough to hold the anvil 4-6 in secure rela tiontherewith.

With the vibrator plow 26 pivotally mounted on shank 12, a space 52 willbe present between the lower end of shank 12 and the upper face ofvibrator plow 26. This will enable arcuate movement between the vibratorplow 26 and the lower end of shank 12 about pin 36 as a pivot.

The recess 22 and space 52 are each filled with an elastomer material23, with the exception of a hollow portion formed therein to receive lug32. The elastomer material is preferably a rubber-like material whichhas the hardness of at least that of vulcanized tread rubber, and whenthe ripper plow 26 is attached to shank 12, it is preferable that thehollow portion within the elastomer material 23 be of a size smallerthan the size of lug 32 so the pieces will have to be assembled underpressure, such as is exerted by a hydraulic ram, to enable aper tures 24and 34 to be brought into register. In this ma ner, vibratory action maybe imparted to point 28 of ripper plow 26, and the ripper plow willregain normal position to receive additional impacts, due to theresiliency of elastomer material 23.

The ripper plow shank 12 has a removable wear point 53 on the forwardface thereof, which wear point is preferably hard surfaced to resistabrasive action of the formation, when moved through the terrain. Thewear point 53 is apertured at spaced intervals along the length thereofto receive pins 53a therethrough and through complementary apertures inthe forward edge of ripper shank 12. By having the ripper shankconstructed in this manner, the life of the shank may be materiallylengthened, as the greatest wear occurs on the forward edge thereof.

A conventional air hammer mechanism, designated by the numeral 54, has aflange 60 thereon, which air hammer mechanism is positioned withintubular member and seats upwardly against a shoulder 56 within tubularmember 20. The air hammer mechanism 5 is secured in place by cap screws58, which cap screws pass through apertures within the flange 60 on thelower end of the cylinder of the air hammer mechanism 54-.

Various air hammers, such as jack hammers and the like, are manufacturedby different manufacturers, one of such air hammers is manufactured bythe Thor Power Tool Company. One of the characteristics of one of theair hammers manufactured by this company is the driving of a piston,similar to the piston 62 within cylinder 64, under high impact, againsta tool bar 66. The tool bar, in

the present instance, shows a mushroomed hammer end 68 on the lower endthereof, the lower end of which mushroomed hammer is adapted to engagethe anvil 40, as will best be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

An air compressor 76 is mounted on and driven by the traction element 1in a conventional manner (which drive is not shown) which will directair under pressure through conduit 71 into tank 72. The tank 72,preferably, has a control valve 74 thereon, which valve 74 is opened andclosed by a valve lever 76, to control the flow of air outward throughthe control valve 74 and into a conduit 78, which conduit 78 leads tothe head 86 of the air hammer mechanism 54. The valve mechanism of theair hammer will automatically introduce and exhaust air under pressureat a rapid rate, which will cause a hammering action on anvil 40, whichwill cause the point 28 of vibrator plow 26 to vibrate rapidly.

The air hammer mechanism is shown to have resilient cushion members 82in the lower end thereof to return the tool bar 66 toward the upper endof cylinder 64. As the air hammer 68 of the air hammer mechanism 54operates, air is exhausted through ports 84 into annular space 86 intubular member 26, upward to be exhausted through holes at the upper endof tubular member 20.

By the removal of pin 36 from ripper plow shank 12, the vibrator plow 26may be removed from the ripper shank 12, and the removal of the vibratorplow 26 gives access to bolts 58 which extend through flange 60 and arescrew threaded into the shouldered portion 56 of tubular member 20.These bolts 58 may then be removed, whereupon, the air hammer mechanism54 may be removed from the lower end of tubular member 20, therebygiving ready access to the air hammer mechanism for the repair orreplacement of parts, should they become worn or broken. By reversingthis procedure the mechanism may be reassembled. The anvil 40 may alsobe readily removed by removal of pin 50, or reassembled by replacementof the pin 50, as will best be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6.

Operation To operate the vibrating ripper plow, the traction element 1is moved over the terrain as indicated in FIG. 1, and with the point 28of vibrator plow 26 lowered to the desired depth, as indicated in fulloutline in FIG. 1, the traction element 1 is moved ahead andsimultaneously, air under pressure, is directed from compressor intotank 72, thence through open valve 74, which valve 74 is controlled bylever 76, thus air is directed from valve 74 through conduit 78, 'intothe upper end of air impact hammer mechanism 54 and through valvingmechanism 99, which is conventional in air hammers of this character,whereupon the piston 62 is driven downward against the upper end of toolbar 66, which drives the tool bar downward against sleeve 92 and againstresilient cushion members 82, which piston 62 will drive the impacthammer 68 against the upper face of anvil 40, whereupon the automatic orsequencing valving mechanism will intermittently direct air onto theupper face of piston 62 to cause a rapid succession of impact blows byhammer 68 on anvil 4t), whihc will drive the rear portion of vibratorplow 26 downward, to cause the pivotal movement of vibrator plow 26about pivot pin 36, which will cause the lifting of point 23 with impactintensity which will cause the rock or hard material being plowed to beloosened or broken, whereupon, as the traction element 1 moves forward,the point will be moved downward during the upward movement of tool bar66 and piston 62.

By vibrating the point 28 the ripper may be pulled through rock and hardsoil with less power than it is possible to do if the point was notbeing vibrated. The present ripper is capable of ripping trenches forpipelines, communication cables, power lines that are buriedunderground, and all other trenching operations which usually requiretrenches or ditches ripped in the earths surface tcla a depth greaterthan is usually possible by conventional p ows.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimedas new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an earth engaging ripper plow for opening a furrow within theterrain and in combination with a traction element;

(a) a frame,

(b) a ripper plow shank mounted on said frame,

(1) said ripper plow shank having a recess formed in the lower endthereof,

(2) said shank being apertured transversely near the lower end thereofso said apertures will intersect said recess,

(c) an element of elastomer material fitted within said recess in saidripper plow shank,

(1) said element of elastomer material having a recess formed therein,

(d) a ripper plow,

(1) an upstanding aperture lug on a side of said ripper plow,

(2) said apertured lug adapted to fit in complementary relation withinsaid recess within said element of elastomer material so said aperturewill register with said transverse aperture in the lower end of saidripper shank, and

(e) a pin adapted to pass through said transverse apertures in saidshank and said lug to mount said lug in said element of elastomermaterial in pivoted relation with respect thereto.

2. In a vibrating ripper plow for use with a prime mover;

(a) a frame,

(b) a ripper plow shank mounted on said frame,

(1) said ripper plow shank having a recess formed in the lower endthereof,

(2) said shank being apertured transversely near the lower end thereofso said apertures will intersect said recess,

(c) a ripper plow,

(1) an upstanding apertured lug on the upper side of said ripper plowintermediate the length thereof,

(2) said apertured lug being adapted to fit in complementary relationwithin said recess so said aperture will register with said transverseapertures in the lower end of said ripper shank,

(d) a pin adapted to pass through said transverse apertures in saidshank and through the aperture in said lug to mount said lug within saidrecess in pivoted relation with respect thereto,

(e) said rear portion of said ripper plow extending laterally outwardrearwardly of said shank,

(f) a vibrating hammer mounted on the rear portion of said shank atright 'angles to said rearwardly extending portion of said ripper plowto impart impact blows to the rearwardly extending portion of saidripper plow.

3. A vibrating ripper plow for use with a prime mover,

as defined in claim 2 wherein;

(a) a vibrating hammer is air actuated,

(b) said ripper shank has a tube on the rear side thereof to mount saidair actuated hammer, and

(c) said 'air actuated hammer being detachably secured in said tube onthe rear side of the ripper plow shank.

4. A vibrating ripper plow for use with a prime mover, as defined inclaim 3 wherein;

(a) said rearwardly extending portion of said ripper plow has alongitudinal groove formed in the upper side thereof,

(b) said ripper plow has 'a transverse aperture formed therein andintersecting said longitudinal groove in said ripper plow,

(c) a plate forming an anvil and having an apertured lug thereon,

(1) said anvil adapted to seat on the rear portion of said ripper plowso said apertured lug will extend into said longitudinal groove so thetransversely formed apertures in said ripper plow will register with theaperture in said lug, when said anvil is seated on the rear portion ofsaid ripper plow so as to be in position to receive blows, at a rightangle thereto, from said vibrating hammer, and

(2) a pivot pin fitted in said apertures.

5. A vibrator ripper plow for use with a prime mover,

which ripper plow comprises;

(a) an elongated ripper shank,

(b) a vibrator plow pivotally connected to the lower end of said rippershank,

(c) a tubular member secured along the rear side of said ripper shank,

(1) said tubular member having screw-threaded holes formed therein,

((1) an air actuated impact hammer seated within said tubular member,

(1) said air actuated hammer having an outwardly extending, aperturedflange near the lower end thereof,

(i) the apertures in said flange being adapted to register with thescrew-threaded holes in said tubular member,

(2) screw-threaded bolts adapted to pass through said apertures in saidflange to threadably engage within the screw-threaded holes in saidtubular member to detachably secure said air actuated impact hammerwithin said tubular member,

(e) an air pressure supply.

(f) a conduit leading from said air pressure supply to said impacthammer,

(g) valve means for controlling the air from said air pressure supply tosaid air impact hammer, and

(1) said air impact hammer being adapted to direct intermittent blowsupon the rear portion of said vibrator plow upon said valve in saidconduit being opened.

6. A vibrator ripper plow for use with a prime mover,

which ripper plow comprises;

(a) an elongated ripper shank,

(l) the lower portion of said ripper shank having a recess formedtherein,

(b) a vibrator ripper plow pivotally connected to said shank on thelower end thereof,

(1) said vibrator ripper plow having an upstanding, apertured lug on theupper side thereof,

(2) said ripper shank having a transverse aperture formed therethroughand through said recess in position to register with the aperture insaid upstanding lug, when said lug is in one position,

'(3) pivot pin means passing through said aperture in said ripper shankand said aperture in said upstanding lug on said vibrator ripper plow tosecure said vibrator ripper plow in operative relation on said rippershank,

(c) a tubular member secured along the rear side of said ripper shank,

(d) an air actuated impact hammer seated within said tubular member andbeing detachably connected thereto,

(e) an air pressure supply,

(f) a conduit leading from said air pressure supply to said air actuatedimpact hammer,

(g) valve means in said conduit for controlling the air from said airpressure supply to said impact hammer, 'and (1) said air hammer beingadapted to direct intermittent, impact blows upon the rear portion of aa said vibrator plow, upon said valve in said con- References Cited dullbemg i z UNITED STATES PATENTS 7. In an earth engaging ripper plow foropening a furrow within the terrain and in combination with a traction2,422,490 6/ 1947 L T0um6auelement as defined in claim 1 wherein;

(a) said el'astomer material within said recess having a recess formedtherein, which recess is normally smaller than said lug on said ripperplow, so when said lug is fitted in said recess in said elastomermaterial said lug will be held in binding engagement m J, R OAKSAssistant E with respect thereto.

FOREIGN PATENTS 25,566 2/1915 Norway.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

